Mint (Mint)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Mint
Date:	21/07/02 (1336 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: smells good

Disadvantages: spreads too easy

Mint. Where do I begin ,there is so much to say I will try not to bore you.

Mint is an herb most of you will know , mint sauce with lamb, or polo?s, or spearmint chewing gum.

Menthe, Mint

Mint is a Mediterranean plant, introduced to England by the Roman?s. Pilgrims on the mayflower introduced it to America they took plants with them.

The name comes from the Greek nymph Minthe. She attracted Hades ,and Persephone, jealous attacked her , turned her into a plant.

Mint/Menthe is used in many recipes and medicines I am going to tell you a little about the menthe/ mint genus group and its species and some of it?s varieties you will have to forgive me if I miss some varieties out there are over 40.

Mint is a sweetly scented perennial that will rapidly take over your garden if you do not prevent it.


Now a little about mint and its varieties.

Spearmint / Mentha spicata

This is the mint most of you will be familiar with the one we grow in the garden, to add to, potatoes and make mint sauce with.

Spearmint grows to a height of 30cm ? 1m (12-30in) it has bright green ovate wrinkled leaves that grow in intervals up the stem opposite each other. It has lilac pink/white flowers, which grow in a spike at the end of the stem.
It flowers August time.

Variants of this species include:
Crispa has a curly crinkly leaf.

Menthe rubra (mentha smithiana) has a red tinge to its leaves and rosy purple flowers
Mentha Moroccan is a varient

This mint is used for culinary purposes

The oil is used in chewing gum, sweets and mouthwashes.
Apparently it can be used medically for flatulence, hiccups, colic and feverish illnesses.
Perhaps I shall have to try some when I get a bad bout of bottom burps.




Mentha suaveolens (menthe insularis) Apple mint (woolly mint)

This mint has a lovely flavour I know, I have some .It

has round wrinkled leaves which are downy/hairy.
The flowers are pink/white produced in dense spikes at the end of the stem.
Can be used for culinary purposes


A variant is variegata / pineapple mint
This has an irregular creamy variegation to its leaf sometimes the leaf can be all white.
This mint has a very sweet fruity smell.


Mentha piperata peppermint.

This mint is slightly bitter has narrow oval pointed toothed leaves
Peppermint has lilac pink flowers, which are sterile
Can be used in salads teas iced drinks

Medically can be used for indigestion, not to be given to infants

A variant ?citrata? Lemon mint/orange mint/bergamot/ eau de cologne
This variety has purple bronze leaves, used in perfumery.


Mentha aquatica water mint

This mint is a strong smelling
Grows 1-2 foot tall in wet places marshes in ditches streams or in land that is regularly flooded
It has red or violet flowers
Apparently it is good for diarrhoea and painful menstruation.



Mentha pulegium pennyroyal

This mint is very pungent it is a creeping plant growing 4-16 inches 10-40cm it has lilac flowers in whorls along the stem in the axils of the leaves in the late summer

This herb must not be taken in pregnancy, it can cause kidney problems

It was formerly used to flavour puddings
May be used as an insect repellent.

There are other mints, hybrids like ginger mint I believe there is a chocolate mint too.

Mints are rich in volatile oils.
Mint has many medical uses it is taken to relive colic and cramp and for gastric disorders however it should not be taken in excess or by pregnant women it can cause abortion.

Mint is a good insect repellent and can be used to keep mice away.
They do not like the smell.
I like the smell put some in a pot pouri or place some in a flower display
r>
<b
r>Now here are a few recipes


Tomatoes with cream cheese and mint

8 TOMATOES 110g/ 4 oz cream cheese 1`/2 tsps fresh chopped mint squeeze lemon juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper

Slice the top of tomato scoop out flesh,
Mix cheese ,mint, lemon ,salt, pepper and tomato flesh .Fill the tomatoes with this mix Put the tops back on, serve with salad or as a starter



Mint chopped and stirred into yoghurt is good with curries


Mint sauce for lamb 4 tbsp chopped mint 1tbsp sugar 2 tbsp vinegar 2 tbs hot water
Place chopped mint in bowl with sugar pour on boiling water leave 5-10 mins sugar leave till cool


put a mint leaf in the pan while you boil new potatoes

Place a fresh mint leaf with your lamb roast or grill


Mint roots easily in the garden

Sprinkle mint on barbie heavenly smell.
Thanks for reading Mary